New Belgium Brewing’s big bike circus, parade and celebration, the Tour de Fat rolls into Portland this weekend. It’s one of the best bike events of the year, and the entire day is capped with an elaborate ceremony where one smart citizen hands over their car keys and becomes the owner of a brand new, custom urban riding rig.

But according to New Belgium’s Michael Craft, Portland might be the first city in the three-year history of the bike-car trade to have no one step up to the opportunity. Craft says the person they had lined up has just backed out. “I cannot imagine Portland wants to be the first city in three years to not have someone who is willing to trade their car for this unbelievable bicycle.”

The car-for-bike trader this year will roll away on a custom-made commuter bike from Fort Collins, Colorado based Black Sheep Bikes….

The bike up for trade.

If you’re ready to take the carfree plunge, check out the car/bike trade page here and get in touch with New Belgium ASAP by emailing zlevis[at]newbelgium[dot]com. More info about the event here.

Hands down the best decision I have ever made in my life. I traded last year and have never looked back, there was a similar thing last year and I emailed them the day before the event. If anyone is considering this I strongly recommend it.

Sell car. Build up sweet custom frame made locally. Deposit the remaining balance in accounts. Seems like a much more equitable “trade” to me. I’m just saying I’m not surprised people aren’t jumping at the opportunity.

151, no one makes frames locally that resemble the Black Sheep’s. Also to build up a custom frame you would have to have a nice car to sell, not to mention having to sell it for the deposit and then wait for the frame to be built. The car I traded was worth about $1500. I’m just saying I am surprised people arent jumping at the opportunity; its an amazing and uplifting experience.

This is a great opportunity for someone driving an old car that’s a maintenance and insurance money pit! Combined with the 99.00 offer to beta-test the new EcoShopper BicycleR Evolution trailer, and you have a legitimate car-free setup.

Could be that, while biking is extremely popular in Portland, so is having the means to safely transport oneself during inclement weather. For the vast majority of the population cycling is a luxury and always will be.